By: Fran Kumi (@MzPetiteFran)
Staying Fit Day 1: My Appointment with Running and Walking
I used to love to work out….a lot. There have been times in my life when I used to play tennis 3 mornings every week. In grad school, I used to go to the gym, run around the indoor track or get on a treadmill regularly while trying to ignore the stares of the other users of the gym. These stares have followed me all my life for I am this skinny doll-sized woman and people assume I don’t need to work out. I love the high I get from working out and of course I need to keep fit and healthy. For years, I have allowed these rude stares and life to keep me from working out to the point where I would occasionally get on a treadmill.
These days, I love the idea of working out. It feels empowering. It feels sexy to me. I used to love every inch of my body except my acne-scarred face (which I also tend to use as an excuse not to go out and run). I am currently not digging my once firm flat stomach. Of course, when I complain about it, my friends (male and female) look at me like I’m crazy. Trust me, I’m not trying to brag here. I see a bulge where I used to have a firm stomach in every dress that’s not loose or T-shirt that I wear. I can hold the roll. I’m not fixated on staying slim. Rather I want to gain some decent weight in the right places. I used to look at my curvaceous girlfriends and wished my booty and hips would jiggle as I walked like theirs did. I won’t lie to you and say that I also don’t see my curvy girlfriends point when they say they need to lose weight. I’m like, “well, feel free to give me a few of the pounds you lose.” Over the years, I have learned to feel sexy in the skinny petite body of mine but don’t get me wrong, I’m still all about more curves. The last time I got on a treadmill was about two years ago! These days, I play an occasional game of tennis or badminton and try to get in a two 10-minute power walk about twice a week.
I know I have digressed because my intention was to write about something I did today. Something I’m very proud of. I ran! I ran not on a treadmill but outdoors. I didn’t just wake up and decide I wanted to run. I joined @blackgirlsrun on Twitter a week ago. I have been so inspired to run just by the tweets that keep coming in. So anyway, I had this strong desire to run yesterday but I kept pushing that urge back. By this morning, I found myself telling the Lord about it when I was committing my day into His hands. It just slipped out and that’s when I knew today was the day. I tried to get my Nike + iPod sensor to work but failed. I didn’t let that stop me. For the next twenty minutes, I ran (and walked to catch my breath) to Technotronic’s Pump Up the Jam and Reel to Real’s I like to Move It. It was exhilarating. I felt free. My goal is not to lose weight but to stay fit. Now, my task is to find a regimen that wouldn’t make me lose weight. I am thinking of running maybe once a week.
I know how I can get so amped about new things. The challenge is staying in the game. I hope my attempt to document my work out regimen – my once a week run and whatever else this becomes would keep me fit and healthy. I know I need all the help to gain weight and keep fit. Perhaps documenting this would keep me accountable.
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Francis is a great support of Black Girls RUN! She is a newbie runner, in face only started actively running in the last month. She definitely tries to get in a power walk 1-2/week.